Door construction



W 943. N. MICHELE/IAN 2,327,316

' DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 11, 1942 5 SheetQs- -Sheet 1 ATTORNEYAug. 17, 1943. N. MICHELMAN DOOR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed.Aug. 11, 1942 INVENTOR.

ATTORNE Aug. 17, 1943; N. MICHELMAN 2,327,316

DOOR CONS TRUCT ION Filed Aug. 11, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M IgVENTOR.

l ATTORNEY industrial buildings.

constructions.

Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE noon CONSTRUCTIONNathan Michelman, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1 Application August 11, 1942, SerialNo. 454,473

which are elevated to open position abovethe doorway, as employed inwharves and other industrial buildings, where maximum clearance forafiording ready access to loading'platforms and storage space isessential. v While my invention, as will be manifest from thedescription thereof, may be advantageously employed in various otherconstructions, in-- cluding'garages and similar structuresyI haveelected to present it as it may be practiced in the construction andoperation offwh'arves and However, this is merely illustrative and isnot to be construed, in any sense, as a limitation 'of the scope ofutility ofmy invention, i

Doors of the general type of my invention are largely used in industrialstructures, especially in conjunction with the operation of loadingplatforms and other freight handlinginstallations and the general objectof this invention is to provide a jack-knife typ'e'of door of a simpleand ruggedconstruction which may be readily installed at a minimum ofcost in existing as well as new structures, with accruing operationaland security advantages which; heretofore, have not been obtainable infolding doors or the same general character.

More specifically, it is'the primary object of this invention'to providea door construction of the bi-fold or so-called jack-knife type,comprising cooperatingdoor sections hinged for elevation from a verticalclosed position to anopen position above the doorway, for storage insuperimposed relation to project outwardly of-the doorway, in the mannerof a canopy, wherein the door sections in the termination of theirdescending movement will be impelled inwardly from a canted positionrelative to the doorway, into vertical alinement within the doorwayjambs, in closure-forming position, thereby insuring dependability inoperation and obviating any possibility ofthe door sections jamming orcoming to'rest within the doorway in a tilted position, so that theymust be manually urged into alinement, as is of frequent occurrence inexisting An important object of my invention is to provide a sectionaldoor construction, as aforesaid,

, wherein the door sections in their movement to closure-formingposition, will'be automatically locked or secured in such position,thereby elimi- 14 Claims. (01. 160-190) nating supplemental manual orother locking operations now required in doors of similar types, andadding materially to the security of the closure against tampering fromwithout.

Another important object of my invention isto provide a sectional door.construction having the aforesaid characteristics and advantages, inwhich the door sections are automatically unlocked in the movement ofone ofv the door secabout the doorway, cleared, to afford access to thelocking media, for locking and releasing the door, a

It is also an object of this invention to provide a jack-knife type ofdoor, as aforesaid, which may be readily operated to open and closedposi-- tions, the lower door section, in the initiation of theimovementof the door. to open position, being struction.

impelled outwardly in a radial movement from its vertical closedposition, thereby contributing to the overcoming of the forces ofinertia and facilitating the operation of the door-sections to openposition.

Further, it is an object of this invention to increase the safety factorin the operation of doors of the jack-knife type, by providing a simpleand efficient means adapted to function to arrest uncontrolled downwardmovement-of the door sections, such as would result from the accidentalrelease of the door sections from control of the operating mechanism, aswould occur in the breaking of a cable or other mishap.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my inventionwill become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a preferred andpracticalembodiment of my invention, as it may be employed in industrialcon- However, my invention may take other forms, to meet differentproduction and installation requirements, as will be evident, within thespirit and scope of this disclosure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is'a rear elevation of a sectional door construction.conforminz to my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structurev of nisrn.

Aguideway or track Figure is an enlarged longitudinal sectional iew,taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view.c-n the line E% of Figure 5. v

Figure 7 is a'sectional elevation on the line 'i'-'l of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly in section, of thetwo door, sections and one of the interconnecting hinges.

Referring now: to the drawings in detail, in which like characters ofreference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views,the door or closure comprises an upper section illand a lower section 1l, the upper section being hinged, as at 12, to the head of t -e doorway13 for rotative movement upwardly and out- The hinge connections.

wardly relative thereto. l2 may be of any preferred type. is hereishown, each hinge comprises a supporting member 12a, fixed to the headofthe doorway i which embodies 'a dependent bearing portion 21) adapted tobe entered in the bifurcated bearing 12 of the hinge element iildsecured, to the top edge of the upper door section It, the two bearingsbeing interconnected for relative arcuate "movement by a pin l2e.

The lower door sectionv ii is hinged along its top edge to thebottornedge of teupper door section, as generally indicated at M, for rctativemovement upwardly and inwardly relative to the upper door section, sothat when the'two door sections are conjointly elevated to extreme open1 .position, they will-'be'disposed outwardly of the v doorwayframe,inSuperimposedrelation, in the manner of a canopy, as shown inFigure 2.

."Ihev aforesaid hinges i2 constitute, the sole connection between theupper door section and the doorway frame, the'movem'ent of the uppersection to and from open position beingefiected in responseto theactuation of the lowerdoor section, connected thereto, by thefunctioning of the door. operating mechanism which, as herein shown andgenerally indicated at m is or. a conventional type, utilizing acounterweightw for 'counterbalancing the variable load, of the doorsections in their movement to and from closureforming-position, in whichlatter position they are disposed in vertical alinement parallel to theside members 530; of the jamb ofthe doorway.

Inlieu of the counterweight'type of operating mechanism illustrated, thedoor sections may be counterbalanced and theircperation controlledbyspring my co-pending application, Serial No. 421,272,

means, .suchas are shownin filed December 2, 1941, or other suitablemecha- 55 is disposed in parallelism'with each side memberof the doorwayframe, which is adapted to be traversed by a roller it mounted on ashaft ll fixed to and projecting laterally fronr the bottom of the;lower means of connection between the cable and the lower door section,the lifting effort, as will be obvious, being transmitted therethrough.The camelement it, as shown, embodies a serrated .nose loo; and anoffset counterbalance portion 18b, tending to rotate said element, toreverse the-position of said nose relative to the axis of said element,the cable it? being connected to said'cam element in alinement with theaxis of rotation thereof, as aforesaid, so that normally,

. when the cable isin tension,.the nose of said element is ina dependentposition substantially in-alinement with the axis of rotation of saidelement. Should the cable i9. snap or any. other breakdown of the.operatingflmechanism occur, that would release the door sections foruncontrolled descentfsuchdescending movement will be arrested at itsinception, as the cam element 13 is freed from'the. cable tension androtates on the shaft ll, uhder'theinfiuence of its counterbalanceportion 2.82), to dispose the 11059 .811 thereof for engagement with afixed. surfaceof the door. jamb, as the opposed flange or" he guidewayi,in a jamming action, induced by the downwardly applied impulseeffectl'v'e thereon, to

; arrest the uncontrolled movement of the door sections and retain themin arrested position, un-

til the cam element is released from braking position by therestorationof the cable or operating'me'chanism to ajcondition wherebythe cable again functions .to support the load through said cam element.

' able,as shown in Figure 1.

From the'description thus far, it will be manifest that the doorsections are operable from their vertical closure-forming position; inresponse to "the actuation of the operating mechanism inone direction,to open position, the lower door section swinging inwardly n the hingeline l4, beneath I the upper door ection, as therollers l6 traverse theguideway l5,'the axis of rotative movement of the lower door. sectionrelative .to thedoor frame'and to the upper door section being definedby the shafts l'latieach endv thereof. When the door sections areineXtreme open. position, as shown in Figure 2, the load iscounterbalanced rbyithe counterweightw, the operating mechanism,preferably, being lockedagainst accidental operation by any suitabledevice In the. present showing, this takes the form of a so c'alledlatch Z, with which the operating chain c is. engage- The actuationofthe operating mechanism: in the opposite direction, controls themovement of e the door sections to closedposition, the lower-sectionswinging away from the upper door section in a downward movemennas therollers lfi traverse the guideway l5, producing a concurrent in- -wardmovement-ofthe upper doorsectionon its hinge line Hi, this oppositearcuate movement of the hingedly connected door sectionscontinuing untilthe lower door section reaches its limit of downward movement, when itis impelled.- indoor-section ll, as-shown in Figures 1 ,andb, in

;wardly in an arcuate inovement'from an outwardlycanted-positionrelative to the doorway,

to-its ultimate vertical position therewithin, in ducing a correspondingmovement of the upper door section to complete the closure-formingoperation, bothdoor sections being then vertically alined between thedoor jambs, as shown in Figure 1. The door-alining impulse is generatedin a lever-like inward movement of the canted lower door section on afulcrum formed by the impinging engagement of the rollers 60 with fixedstops 6i disposed on the respective door jambs [3a, in the path ofmovement of said rollers, as the door section descends, as clearly shownin Figures 5 and 6. The rollers'60, as herein shown, are mounted on arms62 fixed to the lower door section H and projecting forwardly andlaterally of each end thereof, the stops 6| taking the form v of anglepieces or brackets welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the door jambsin suitably spaced relation to the floor line to attain the desiredresult,

For preventing manipulation of the door sections from without, when theyare in closureforming position, means are provided for automaticallylocking the lower door section in engagement with the door frame, as itis impelled into its final vertical position between the jambs, thelower door section when thus locked in closure-forming position, servingto retain the upper door ection in similarly functioning position, inalinement therewith. The aforesaid locking means are also automaticallydisplaceable from engagement with the door frame, in the initiation ofthe upward movement of the lower door section toward open position,means being provided in cooperation therewith to impel the lower doorsection outwardly on its axis of rotation, this outward movement beingcommunicated to the upper section to cant the latter from its verticalposition and facilitate the continued movement of both door sections tostorage position, at the head of the doorway, in the manner heretoforedescribed. V I

In the present embodiment, the-meansrfor locking the lower door sectionin engagement with the doorway jamb I311, comprises a latch plate 2idisposed transversely of the end-forming channel member Ha of the frameof said lower door section, one end ofsaidplate extending through theouter flange of said channel mem ber, which may be slotted or cut awayfor-the purpose, for pivotal connection, as at 22 to the bracket 23mounted on the'anterior surface of said flange. The other end of-saidlatch plate embodies a nose E l, undercut as at 25; whichsimilarlyextends beyond the opposite flange of said channel member lid, forengagement with the base of a slot I31) provided in'the jamb l3a of thedoorway, in the relative rotative movement of said plate, parallel tothe web of the channel member, on its fulcrum 22, as hereinafterdescribed. The bracket 23 and the associated end of the latch plate 2|,preferably are enclosed in a housing 26 fixed to the-outer flange of thechannel member I la to protect the latch against tampering from without.

Slidably mounted between the flanges of the channel member I la, injuxtaposition to the bot tom of the lower door section, is a plate 21slotted as at 28 for the reception of the aforesaid shaft ii which isfixedly supported from said channel member I id for movement therewith,in the functioning of the roller 56 and said camelement l8, mountedthereon, as heretofore described. A pin 29, likewise fixed to thechannel member I la, projects within a second slot in said plate 21, in

vertical alinement with the slot 28 therein, the upper end of said plateembodying a clevis3l for the reception of a pin 32 connecting it to thelower end of the turnbuckle 33, the upper end 5 of which is similarlyconnected, as at 34, to the rod 35. The rod 35 is reciprocable in abearing provided by the bracket 36, a compression spring 3'! embracingsaid rod being interposed between and connected to said bracket and thecollar 38 at the lower end of the rod 35.

Pivotally mounted on the web of the channel member Ha as at 39, adjacentthe top edge of the lower door section, is a lever or so-called impulsearm iil which is connected by a link 4| to the upper end of the rod35for rocking movement on its fulcrum 39, said rod 35, adjacent theupper clevis end 4-2 thereof, to which said link 4| is pivoted,embodying an offset'or lateral projection 43, the upper end of which isslotted for the reception of the latch plate 2|, the actuation of whichis controlled thereby, in response to reciprocatory movement of the rod35 as hereinafter explained.

With the door sections vertically disposed in closure-forming position,as shown in Figure 3, it will be observed that the shaft I! and the pin29 are in engagement with the lower ends of the respective slots 28 andihiof the plate 2?, the spring 3! being in tension, with the nose of thelatch plate. 2| in door-locking engagement with the slot fifth of thedoorway jamb lea; also that the free end of the impulse arm 4i: is inabutmentwith the opposed flange of the jamb, it being obvious that theflange of the channel memher iia is interrupted in the area of said arm,

to provide for such engagement with the doorway jamb.

When the upward movement of the lower door section is initiated, inresponse to the actuation of the operating mechanism, the shaft I? andthe pin 29 are displaced upwardly within the respective slots of theplate 2?, the resultant reaction of the compression spring 3? efiectinglongitudinal movement of the plate 2'! and con- ;nected rod 35, to liftthe latch plate 2i bearing upon the offset actuator 13, on said rod, outof engagement with the cooperating slot E3?) of the doorway jamb. Thecontinuing upward movement of said rod 35, under the impulse generatedby the reaction of the spring 31, as aforesaid, thereupon becomeseffective upon the arm 48, through the linki, to cant said arm on itspivot 39 in abutting engagement with the doorway jamb,the lower doorsection being impelled outwardly thereby, in a rotative movement on theaxis of rotation of said rollers I 6, in traversing engagement with theguideway l5. As the lower door section is tilted outwardly, the upperdoor section Ii), hingedthereto, is likewise urged outwardly, thecontinuing upward travel of the rollers l5 along the guideways i5,conjointly actuating the two door sections to their extreme openposition, as heretofore described.

When the door sections are lowered to assume aic lat t d p-inifo ow e.ena ementwith he u t r-pr ie ti n' s o l-said ro to ent r-the nose-of saidlatch plate inlocking-engagementwith theecooperating'slot i3b-otheideorway jamb, .the movements: of ther parts. being the-ree verse-ofthosepreviously :describedin the eleva' tior v oi the doorsections-Lesvrr vio s w po d o t. n: hal door-section is locked inclosure-forming; -p9si: tion, the upper door section-is retained ini-itsclosure-forming position thereby; the hing-econnection between the twofunctioning as a virtual continuation of the two sectionswhen they arevertically disposed. in closed position;

A preferred'form of binge for connecting the two door sections forrelative rotative movement, as-shown in detail inFigureg8, includes abear-- ing member M adapted to be fixed to. the bottom'edge of theupper'door section and asecond-bearing member i iesecured-to the top ofthe-lower door section;each-.ofathese members. embodying laterallysp-acedapertured lugs :35 be.- tween which a plate or leaf 4'! providedwith bearings "58 at each end ismounted, the plate being connected tothe respective members it and 45 by suitable pins (is entered in saidaper- 4? and the respective-bearing members 3 3 and 45 are rotatablewith relation to each. other; ro

tative movement of theplate or leaf it a directionoutwardlyiof theconnected door section; however, being prevented by the abutment formedon the bearingmember with wh the plate 41 is engaged; when the plate anddoor sections are vertically disposed in the c sure-forming position ofthe assemb y.- limiting the direction of. movement, of the 4! withrelation to the door sections, lost motion is eliminated between theconnected Lions, in the operating, of the door, lifting effort appl' tothe lower door section becoming immediat effective upon theupper doorsection; tr 1 insuring more rapid and eficient operat on obviatingjamming which not in: e

the breaking out of the door sections.

other types of hinges are usedfor their interconnection.

To cover the gap between the two-door sections,

as connected by thehingesqust described, an apron is fixed to the faceof theupper door section, as by bolting or other means for-overlaps pingengagement. with the face of the lowerdoor sectionywhile a similar apron52is-fiXedit-o the inner face of the-lowerdoor section i forabuttingengagement with th interior floor of the loading platform or thelike. A- weathereproof bumper of resilient: material, preferably rubber,is disposed longitudinally ofthe bottom of-;the outside of. the lowerdoom-as. indicated at 53, suit. able Weatherstripping; (not shown)being: provided between the door sections. and-the doorway jambs torender'ithe construction stormtight. To insureastormtight seal attheheadlineof the doorway, the top edge forming member of the upper doorsection ifizis preferably L-shaped 1n cross section, the depth of theflange eifia'thereofwhich is disposed parallel to the inner'faceof thedoor section, approximatingthe height of the clearance between thetop'of the-upper door section, as defined by the'fiange ifib'ofsaid-member,- and-the opposed-surfaceof the head of thedoo; way, so thatwhen the upper door sectionris in vertical closure-formin position, theedge of said fian elllwwill be disposedin-proximity to or. abut upon;the head?! 3 oi the doorway; behind or :in.-:- wardly iof' the hinges. I2.: A 'weatherproofzplate i3 extends-across the 'top of, the upper doorsection l0, and is swingably suspendedzfromthe headi3 01 the doorway :on:the outer; side of the hinges I2, asby the U.-bolts Mfcrabuttingengagement with the exterior surface. of: the. .door: section,it bein obvious that; said; platev will .move in conformity with; themovement of; said. door section to, and from closure formingposition. I

While): have describedzbut one latch plate and cooperating -impulsearm-it: will-be understood that similar assemblies are associated:with-each ofgtheiend-formingchannelmembers of the lower door frame,-the doorsections being of any pre ferredconstruction,it=beingobviousthattheendforming membersoflthe upper doorneed not nece essarily bechannel-sections. As herein shown, the door sectionsare of. aconventional sheet metal design, the frames of the sections being ;re-.inforced by the. customary idiagonal' bracing members, with lights.centra11y;located= in the upper doorfsection; asshown in-Figure 1.

, It will be manifest-that inpresentirr my invention, I have confined itmore or less :to the specific embodiment herein shown. However; variouschanges in: the, structural detailsthereo! may be 'efiected, .as well asin the cooperationof the elements of the assembly, in attaining. ,myobjectives, as .hereinbefore set forth, within the scope of the appendedclaims I claim:

1.:A door comprising-an upper section pivotally mounted-,at-its topfor-upward and outward swinging -movement from avertically disposedclosed: positionto an openpositio-n, a-lower sec.-v tion hinged atitstop to saidv upper scctionfor upward and inward swinging movementrelative to'said upper section .from a vertically disposed closedposition .tolan-iopen position, means con-v nected. to said .lowerdoorsection forconjointly actuating both of said door sections to openand. closedpositions, means carried by said lower door section forautomaticallylocking the-lower door section in vertically disposedclosed position in l'eSDO s -the movement of said lower door secstion-to closed. position, saidupper door :section being.retained-,-in:closed position thereby, said lockingmeans being renderednomefiectiveinan initial upward; vertical movement of said lower; doorsection, and means automatically ;functi0n-, ingdn the. continuingupward-movement of said lower door'section .to. swing said-lower doorsec-. tion outwardly and simultaneously, cant said .up-.. per doorsection for. conjoint-upward movement ofgthe two door sections to openposition.

2.-. A door. comprising an upper section-pivotally mounted-at its topfor :upward and outward swinging movement from a verticallyidisposedclosedposition-to an open position, a lower sec.-. tion hinged-atits-topto said upper sectionzfor upward and inward swinging movementrelative. to a said upper section from 1 a vertically disposedclosed-,position toan open-position, means con-. nected to said lowerdoor sectionafor; conjointly actuating both of said door sections. toopen: and closed positions: means carried by said lower door. sectionautomatically efifective inresponse to the movement. of said lower; doorsection: to closed position, tov retain both'of said door sections in ient in werticallyr disposed: :closed position; said: retaining .;mean-,becoming1non-efiective' in a predetermined initial. upward verticalmovc-' menial of said lower, door sectionand means. auto-e maticallyfunctioning when :said retaining means become non-effective to impe1said lower door section outwardly and induce a like directional movementof said upper door section, in the continuing upward movement of saidlower door section, for the ultimate disposition of both door sectionsin open position.

3. The combination with a doorway, of a closure therefor, comprising adoor having an upper section hinged to the top of said doorway forupward and outward swinging movement from avertically disposed closedposition to an open position, a lower door section hingedat its top tosaid upper door section for upward and inward swinging movement relativeto said upper door section, from a vertically disposed closed positionto an open position, operating mechanism for controlling the conjointmovement of both of said door sections to open and closed positions andfixed means on said lower door section engageable with said doorway inthe termination of the downward movement of said lower door section toclosed position, to retain both of said door sections in alinement invertically disposed door-way closing position.

4. The combination with a doorway, of a closure therefor, comprising adoor having an upper section hinged to the top of said doorway forupward and outward swinging movement from a vertically disposed closedposition to an .open position, a lower door section hinged at its top tosaid upper door section for upward and inward swinging movement relativeto said upper door section, from a vertically disposed closed positionto an open position, operating mechanism for controlling the conjointmovement of both of said door sections to open and closed positions andfixed means on said lower door section engageable with said doorway inthe termination of the downward movement of said lower door section toclosed position, to retain both of said door sections in alinement invertically disposed door-way closing position, said retaining meansbeing displaceable from engagement with said doorway in an initialupward movement of said lower door section, to permit of the conjointmovement of both of said door sections to open position.

5. The combination with a doorway, of a closure therefor, comprising adoor having an upper section hinged to the top of said doorway forupward and outward swinging movement from a vertically disposed closedposition to an open position, a lower door section hinged at its top tosaid upper door section for upward and'inward swinging movement relativeto said upper door section, from a vertically disposed closed positionto an open position, operating mechanism for controlling the conjointmovement of both of said door sections to open and closed positions,means in pivotal engagement with said lower door section engageable withsaid doorway in response to the impelled inward movement of said lowerdoor section to vertical position, to retain both of said door sectionsin alinement in vertically disposed doorway closing position, saidClosed to an open position, a lower door section hinged at its top tosaid upper door section for upward and inward rotative movement relativeto said upper door section, froma vertically disposed closed position toan open position, a guide way incorporated in said doorway, meanscarried by said lower door section'formed to traverse said guideway inthe movement .of said lower door section to open and closed positions,operating mechanism connected to said lower door section, for eifectingthe conjoint movement of both of said door sections to open and closedpositions, meanscarried by said lower door section engageable with saiddoorway in the terminal portion of its downward movement effective toretain both of said door sections in closed position, said retainingmeansb'eing displaceable from engagement with said doorway in theinitiation of the upward movement of said lower door section toward openposition, and means operable in sequence to the displacement of saidretaining means from doorway engaging position, to abut said doorway andtilt said lower door section outwardly on the axis' defined by saidguideway-traversing means in engagement with said guideway, in thecontinuing'upward movement of said lower door section, the tilting ofsaid lower door section effecting a like directional movement of saidupper door section for the conjoint movement oi-the two door sections toopen position, in the continuing; operation of said controllingmechanism.

7.The. combination with a doorway, of a closure therefor, comprising adoor having an upper door section hinged at its top to the head of saiddoorway for relative upward and outward rotative movement from avertically disposed closed to an open position, a lower doorsectionhinged at its top to said upper door section for upward andinward rotative movement relative to said 7 upper door section, from avertically disposed closed position to an open position, a'guidewayincorporated in said doorway, means carried by said lower door sectionformed to traverse said guideway in the movement'of said lower doorsection to open and closed positions, operating mechanism connected tosaid lower door section, for effecting the conjoint movement of both ofsaid door sections to open and closed positions, means carried by saidlower door section engageable with said doorway in the terminal portionof its downward movement effective to retain both of said door sectionsin closed position, said retaining means being displaceable fromengagement with'said doorway in the initiation of'the upward movement ofsaid lower door sectiontoward open position, and means operable in'sequence to the displacement. of said retaining means from doorwayengaging position, to abut said doorway and tilt said lower door sectionoutwardly on the aXis defined by said' guidewaytraversing means inengagement with said guideway, in the continuing upward movement of saidlower door section, the tilting of said lower door section eiiecting alike directional movement of said upper door section for the conjointmovement of the two door sections to open position, in the continuingoperation of'said controlling mechanism,& and: a Tidevicei carried. :by:said. lower door section and COI'lIlGIZtBd'LitO said operating-me'ch'anism5. adapted to fengagemsaidi doorway to arrest zdownward:movement. of. :said-v'door zse'ctions zupon vzs'aidt operating:mechanismi becoining non- .efiective Lin" controlling:thezmovem'entnofisaid door-sectionsto or'fnoni open position. v

BJA door 'rconstructioni;acomprising: an zupper doorsection'radapted:ItO-ibe hinged/along iits stop :edgei i lithe. head off .a a doorwayfori relativermo- -tativeimovement upwardly; and outwardly :fromawertically). disposed. closure-forming: position to anmopennpositiomza: lower door s'section, .vmeans for 'oonnectingz said: We1'idO0I'f section to :said uppendoor section :for:upward andinwardirotative movement. relative ato issaidiupper; door :section :froma ozertically disposed closure-forming posi- -tioni:to= an open positionand meansiat :the bot- :tom :ofrsaid lower-doorsection adapted J10ztravierse a guideway associated with a doorway frame; saidoonnectingz'm'eans comprising azp'luralityzof ;hinges,:.:eachdncludingadbearingfimemberi:fixed .to ztha-bottom ::edge: of the-upper: door:section, a; second: bearing member fixed tot-the top "edgeofr'saidalower dofor section in alinement with'. the ib'earing'memberlon:the'z upper-doorv section',i:and a:plate-like1element shaving bearings;formed' at its opp'ositerends entered between. ithe respectiye bearingmembers and a pin connecting 1 said bear- :ing: memberandqsaidtlplate;ioropivotalrmovement, ithe' respective ido'ore sections;sbeing. oppositely? rotatable .as aforesaid; relatively :to- :saidplatedike element; said lower door section being rotatable on the axisof said guideway'traversing 'means.

-:9.J A door construction comprising. an upper door section: adapted; to:be hinged l along; its top 'edge tonthe head of. a doorway for relativerotative movement upwardly and. outwardly from a vertically disposedclosure-forming. position to an open: position, a alower door#s'e'ction, means :for oonne'cting said lower door section ;toisaidiupper door :section: for upward. and'inward rot'ative movementrelat-ive to said upper door nsection lfromva vertically-disposed cllre'efo i 'p sition:to an=open position1and means atthebottom of saidlower door section adapted 'toitravuse a" guidewayassociatedwithadoorway frame; 'said' connecting means: comprising a plurality. ofhinges, reachxin'cluding a bearing :member fixed to-the bottoml-edge ofthe upper door se-ctionga second bearing member-fixed to the ztopeedgeof said-lower door section in .alinement-wvithithe bearing :member onthe upper door section; :and a plate-like element:havingibearingsformed: at .itsxr-oppositeiendsrentered :between'it-he respectivebearing members and apin eonnecting saidlbearring'imember-aandezsaidcplate for .:pivotal.i'movement, the:srespective door:sectionsubeingoppoisitely rotatablew;as aforesaid; relatively itorsaid p1ate=likeselement ssaidi bearingrz'member'ifixed :tos's'aid upperrdoor.sectionvembodying: a "stop .for engagement: by said plate-liketazelementto limit outward rotative :imovement "of wsaid element, rwhereby in theinitiation: :of the fmovementv of :the door sections to: :open:position, 1 an; outward -movement-ofsaid: lower door section on theaxis oft-said guideway 'tIfiVGISiIlfllrHIEQHS; :will produce.a/correspondingr outward I movement of i said 2111)- zper. door.section, :canting :eiiortbeing transmitted from; said. lower doorsection through-said :elementnengagedwithlsaid stop to the/upper doorsection.

.1.0.. 'Ihe combination with a-doorway, of -.a closuretherefore-comprising adoorhaving an upper door section hinged at its topto the head :ofi saiddoorway for relative upwardcand out- -ward-rotativemovement from averticallynis- Y posed-closed to an open position, a.loweridoor "sectionhinged at its top to'said upper door sec tion forupward and inward rotative movement relative to said'upper doorsection,from a vereticallyadisposed closed position to an open, position, aguidewayincorporated in said doorway, -means carriedby said lower. doorsection formed to i-trav-erse"said -guideway in the movementof saidlowerdoor section to open and :closedpo- :sitions," operating'mechanism'connectedto said l'owendoorsection, for effecting theconjoint :movem'ent of'both of saiddoor sections to open'andvclosedpositions; means carried by'said lower door section.engageable with'said' doorwayin the terminal portion of its. downwardmovement refate'ctive to retain both of said door sections in closedposition, said retaining means beingdisplaceable from engagement withsaid doorwayzin the initiation of the'upward movement of :said lowerdoor seotionntoward open position, and means operable in sequence tothedisplacement of said retaining m'cansfrom doorway engaging position,to abut-said doorway and tilt said lower door is ction outwardly on theaxis defined'by said guideway-traversing means in engagement withsaid'guideway, inzthe continuing upward 'inovement'oi said :iower doorsection, the tilting of: said lower door section effectingolikedirec'tionalmovement of saidupper door section for the conjointmovernent ofthe 'two door sections to open positiomin the continuing operation. ofvsaid controlling'mechanism; andimeans for ar- -resting .the.downward'movement of said doorsecticns; when such movement is not"controlledbv said operating mechanism.

- '11. The combination with -a doorway, of a closurethereforgcomprising: a. door having: an upper sectionhinged to the topof'said' doorway fori upward andioutwardiswinging :movement fromiatverticallyidisposedclosed position to an open position, aflower' doorsection hinged at its .top to said upper. door section :for upward and:inward swinging movement-re1ative;to said upper door section, from avertically disposedi'closed position to an open position, operatingmechanisin for controllingthe conjoint movement :of 'bothxof said doorsections to open and closedpo- .:sitions,v.andimeans movable-With saidlower door isection, formed for engagement with said doorway'in thetermination of the descending movement vof saiddoor section in cantedrelation to said doorway, to impel said lower door section inwardly intoverticalposition within said doorwayand produce a concurrent likedirectional movement of said upper door section, to simultaneouslydispose both of said door sections in vertical-valinement inclosure-forming position, and means-carried by said lower door sectionantomatically engageable with said doorway in-rensponsetto the impelledmovement of said lower door section to vertical position, to retain bothof said doorsections in. closure-forming position. 12. The combinationwith a doorwam of'a closure therefor, comprising a doorw'having an uppersection hinged to the top of said doorway for upward and outwardswinging movement from a vertically disposed closed. position to an openposition; a lower door section hinged at its top to said upper doorsection for upward and inward swinging movement relative to said upperdoorsection, from a vertically disposed closed position to an openposition, operating mechanism for controlling the conjoint movement ofboth of said door sections to open and closed positions, and meansmovable with said lower door section adapted for engagement with saiddoorway to impel said lower door section into vertical position withinsaid doorway, at the termination of the movement of the two doorsections from open to closed position and produce a concurrent likedirectional movement of the upper door section, to simultaneously locateboth of said door sections in vertical alinement in closure-formingposition.

13. The combination with a doorway, of a clocure therefor, comprising adoor having an upper section hinged to the top of said doorway forupward and downward swinging l iovement from a vertically disposedclosed position to an open position, a lower door section hinged at itstop to said upper door section for upward and inward swinging movementrelative to said upper door section, from a vertically disposed closedposition to an open position, operating mechanism for controlling theconjoint movement of both of said door sections to open and closedpositions, means movable with said lower door section formed forengagement with said doorway in the termination of its descendingmovement in outwardly canted relation to said doorway, to impel saidlower door section inwardly into vertical position within said doorwayand produce a concurrent like directional movement cfsaid upper doorsection to simultaneously dispose both of said door sections in verticalalinement in closureforming position, means in pivotal engagement withsaid lower door section engageabie with said doorway in response to theimpelled inward movement of said lower door section to verticalposition, to retain both of said door sections in alinement invertically disposed doorway closing position, said retaining means beingdisplaceable iii from engagement with said doorway in an initial upwardmovement of said lower door section, and means carried by said lowerdoor section automatically operable in response to the continu ingupward movement of said lower door section to engage said doorway toimpel said lower door section outwardly and cant said upper doorsection, for ultimate disposition of both or" said door sections in openposition at the top of said doorway in the termination of the conjointupward movement of the door sections,

14. The combination with a doorway, of a closure therefor, comprising adoor having an upper section hinged to the top or said doorway forupward and outward swinging movement from a vertically disposed closedposition to an open position, a lower door section hinged at its top tosaid upper door section for upward and inward swin' movement relative tosaid upper door section, from a vertically disposed closed position toan open position, operating mechanism for controlling the conjointmovement of both of said door sections to open and closed positions, aforwardly projecting arm fixed to said lower door section, at each endthereof and offset laterally therefrom, each of said arms having aroller mounted thereon, and a stop disposed at each side of said doorwayin the path of movement of the respective roller in the descent of saidlower door section in outwardly canted relation to the doorway, saidrollers being adapted to impinge upon said stops to rock said lower doorsection inwardly from said canted position to a vertical position withinsaid doorway, the inward arcuate movement of said lower door sectionproducing a concurrent like directional movement of said upper doorsection, to effect the simultaneous vertical alinement of the two doorsections in closure-forming position.

NATHAN MICHELMAN.

